Frequently asked questions

Our services are competitively priced, considering the comprehensive solutions we provide. We focus on delivering value that exceeds the cost, including time savings, access to a wide network of suppliers, and tailored solutions for your specific needs.

We prioritize both quality and cost-effectiveness. By default and oru DNA, we pursue asset-light solutions, which on itself is already reducing capex pressure. Our extensive experience and network allow us to identify and collaborate with suppliers who meet high-quality standards while also offering competitive pricing.

Absolutely! Our managed services are designed to streamline the process from supplier matching to implementation, significantly reducing the time-to-market for your new products.

We adhere to strict confidentiality agreements and ensure that intellectual property rights are respected and protected throughout our collaboration.

Our services are highly customizable. We work closely with our clients to understand their unique needs and tailor our services accordingly.

We aim to minimize your workload. Our team takes on the heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on core business activities, while still keeping you informed and involved in key decisions.

We conduct thorough research to understand your market interests and values, ensuring that any outsourcing partnership we recommend is fully aligned with your company's ethos.

With over 75 years of cumulative experience in the food industry, Cibus Nexum boasts an impressive history of more than 500 successful matches between clients and suppliers. Our team's expertise is deeply rooted in a blend of innovation, operational efficiency, and a commitment to client satisfaction. For more detailed insights into our team's extensive knowledge and experience, please visit our Team Page where you can learn about the individual experts who drive our success.

We offer various engagement models to suit different needs, including project-based and ongoing collaborations, with clear terms to ensure flexibility and transparency.

Mostly we are involved on a project basis, we we charge per diem or retainer fees. 

We are an independent consultancy managing End-to-End projects for our client, which may also include targeting, approaching, screening and onboarding manufacturers and client prospects. Also relying on our personal network and our own sophisticated tooling, we value our independent position in the market. In both cases, we will ultimately deliver a shortlist of validated and screened potential partners, and these companies will be connected directly to our client after NDA and clarification meetings. For such projects we work on project fee or retainer based fee.

There is one specific exception on this: we can act like an agent, but only in the case of specific export projects, where we operate exclusively for brands and manufacturers. 

Firstly, when collaborating with our clients, Cibus Nexum is used to arranging mutual NDAs to protect their IP.

Secondly, our clients value our independent position to start engaging with external resources and potential contract manufacturers anonymously, limiting access to sensitive details.

Last but not least, we help our clients design the best-fit supply and production chains that allow for IP securitization, preventing co-packers from replicating their products.

Our impartial approach ensures your proprietary formulas and processes stay confidential while enabling safe outsourcing.

Need expert IP protection? We've got you covered.

Cibus Nexum helps food companies turn innovation into scalable business. We support clients with:

• asset-light production strategies
• food technology scaling roadmaps
• manufacturing partner benchmarking, scouting and selection
• waste- and side stream valorisation projects
• business development 
• AI-powered Innovation as a Service. 

Our role is to connect the technological, operational and commercial capabilities needed to bring food innovations successfully to market.

We work with startups, scaleups, established food brands, corporates, multinationals and food manufacturers. Our clients range from companies developing their first commercial product to international organisations looking for new production technologies, manufacturing partners, innovation opportunities or routes to market.

Asset-light scaling means growing production capacity without necessarily investing in and owning the complete manufacturing infrastructure yourself. Instead, we help identify and develop the right external production capabilities, technologies and partners. This can reduce capital requirements, increase flexibility and allow companies to focus investment on innovation, brand development and commercial growth.

The sooner the better !

We can become involved from the early innovation stage through to industrialisation and commercial growth. This can include feasibility assessment, recipe and process development, pilot trials, manufacturer searches, production scale-up, process validation, shelf-life testing, commercial negotiations, business development and market expansion.

We combine strategic advice with practical implementation. Rather than only delivering recommendations, we can actively support technology assessment, manufacturing partner searches, trials, scale-up, negotiations and business development. As an independent partner, we are not tied to specific manufacturers, technologies or suppliers and can therefore focus on what best supports the client's objectives.

We start with the requirements of the product, process, market and (future) business model. We then assess potential partners based on success factors such as technological capabilities, capacity, quality systems, scalability, commercial fit, confidentiality, market interests and strategic alignment. The objective is not simply to find available production capacity, but to identify a partner capable of supporting sustainable growth.

Yes. Scaling food production often requires more than increasing batch size. Ingredients, processing parameters, equipment, heat transfer, mixing, filling and packaging can all behave differently at industrial scale. We help translate products and processes into commercially viable production through pilot trials, test productions, recipe adjustments, process optimisation and validation.

IP protection is considered throughout partner selection, development and scale-up. Depending on the project, this can include confidentiality agreements, controlled information sharing, compartmentalisation of know-how, contractual protection and careful management of recipes, processing parameters and proprietary technologies. The appropriate approach depends on where the competitive advantage resides within the product or process.

Since early 2026 we are one of the exclusive resellers of this amazing piece of work in Europe: Proxy Foods! 

Supporting our clients with their innovations, this platform will be a great opportunity and leverage in their R&D projects.This mind-blowing platform combines food industry expertise with AI-assisted research, opportunity identification and innovation development. It can help companies explore technologies, ingredients, products, markets and manufacturing possibilities more efficiently, while human industry expertise remains essential for evaluating technical feasibility and commercial relevance.

It does not have to. Effective outsourcing requires the right governance, specifications, quality systems, reporting structures and contractual arrangements. Cibus Nexum helps clients create outsourcing models that provide scalability while maintaining appropriate control over product quality, intellectual property, processes, supply continuity and commercial interests.

Ideally before the product is completely locked. Industrial manufacturing capabilities or constraints can influence recipe design, processing conditions, packaging and cost structure. Involving manufacturing considerations in the scaling roadmap early can prevent expensive reformulation and delays when moving from development to commercial production.

For many startups and scaleups, outsourced production can reduce capital requirements and provide faster access to industrial capabilities. Building a factory can offer greater control but requires significant investment, technical expertise, management capacity and utilisation. We help companies evaluate both scenarios based on their technology, expected volumes, margins, growth strategy and long-term competitive advantage.

We translate your product and business requirements into a manufacturing profile and identify potential partners based on technology, capacity, certifications, volumes, geography, commercial fit and growth potential. We can also support discussions, confidentiality arrangements, trials, scale-up and negotiations.

For more information: take a good look at our FoodFlow (R) method !

That is a common scale-up challenge. A product developed in a kitchen, laboratory or pilot environment may behave differently on industrial equipment. We can help identify the cause, modify processing parameters or formulations where necessary, and organise pilot or test productions before full commercialisation.

Dependency can be reduced through careful partner selection, contractual arrangements, documentation, ownership of critical know-how and, where appropriate, second-source strategies. It's also important to distingish upstream and downstream processing to design the best fit supply chain. We help clients understand which capabilities are genuinely unique and which parts of the production chain should remain transferable.

Yes. We assess whether your manufacturing setup, supply chain, technology and partner network can support anticipated growth. This can include identifying future capacity requirements, alternative production locations, larger-scale technologies, cost improvements and additional manufacturing partners before capacity becomes a bottleneck.

The protection strategy depends on what makes the product unique. We can help structure confidentiality, information disclosure and co-development processes so potential partners receive enough information to evaluate the project without unnecessarily exposing proprietary knowledge.

Yes. Scaling production only creates value when it is connected to commercial opportunity. We can support market positioning, business development, partner introductions, channel exploration and commercial strategy alongside manufacturing and technology development.

AI can accelerate areas such as market exploration, competitive landscaping, ingredient and technology research, opportunity mapping and concept development. Our approach combines these capabilities with food industry expertise so that ideas are evaluated against real-world manufacturing, regulatory and commercial constraints.

Not necessarily. Early involvement can be valuable when important technology, manufacturing and business-model decisions are still flexible. We can help assess feasibility and determine the most appropriate development route before significant capital is committed.

Outsourcing can provide access to specialised technology, additional capacity and new product categories without requiring major capital investment. In some cases multinationals do ont have the production assets to produce the new products, or the quantities are too low in the beginning. It can also allow companies to explore opportunities faster and reduce the risk associated with investing in manufacturing assets.

Yes. We can search beyond existing supplier and manufacturing relationships to identify technologies, specialists and production partners that match specific innovation objectives. Our independent position allows us to evaluate options without being tied to particular suppliers or technologies.

Asset-light approaches do not necessarily replace internal manufacturing. They can complement existing factories when new products require different technologies, when internal capacity is limited or when demand is initially uncertain. This allows companies to test and scale opportunities before deciding whether future internal investment is justified.

Yes. Confidentiality and controlled information sharing are integral to our work. Projects can be structured so sensitive product, technology and strategic information is disclosed only where necessary, supported by appropriate confidentiality arrangements.

For instance, we have been involved in top-secret make-or-buy assessments at various mulitinationals.

Technical capability is only one part of partner selection. We also consider customer relationships, competing products, market activities, strategic priorities, ownership, capacity commitments and potential conflicts of interest. This helps reduce the risk of choosing a technically capable partner whose commercial interests do not align with yours.

Yes. We can supplement internal innovation resources through targeted technology searches, manufacturing feasibility assessments, external partner identification, venture / scale-up support and rapid prototyping. This can allow internal teams to explore more opportunities without proportionally increasing fixed resources.

Yes. This is one of the main advantages of an external innovation ecosystem. We can help identify companies with relevant processing capabilities, specialist knowledge or technologies and assess how these could be integrated into your innovation strategy.

It can complement existing R&D and innovation teams by accelerating research, technology scanning, opportunity identification and structured exploration. We combine AI capabilities with food industry knowledge so findings can be filtered for technical feasibility, manufacturing relevance and commercial potential.

Yes. We can support companies looking to transfer production, create additional manufacturing capacity, benchmark their current production setup, reduce supply risk or identify alternative production partners. This can include technical assessment, partner search, trials, process transfer, validation and implementation support.

We support both. Innovation, manufacturing and commercialisation are closely connected. Our business development activities can help companies identify strategic partnerships, new markets, customers, channels and commercial opportunities around existing or newly developed capabilities.

We help manufacturers identify business opportunities that match their technologies, capacity and strategic ambitions. This can include connecting them with brands and innovators, identifying new applications for existing capabilities and supporting business development, innovation and market positioning. And let's not forget oru expertise in waste- and sidestream valorization projects!

Yes. Rather than focusing only on generic lead generation, we look at where your production capabilities create genuine competitive value. We can help define attractive target markets, product categories and customer profiles and support business development toward opportunities that fit your operations. We have a very target driven playbook to execute such. 

Yes. Underused capacity can sometimes be addressed by identifying adjacent categories, new customer segments or products that fit the existing process. We can assess your capabilities and explore where they may have commercial relevance beyond your current customer base.

Yes. A processing technology developed for one category may create opportunities in other product segments. Through technology assessment, market research and AI-powered Innovation as a Service, we can explore applications that combine technical compatibility with commercial potential.

No, our role is independent. When supporting an end-client with partner selection, recommendations are based on the client's requirements and our objective screening rather than commercial preference for a particular manufacturer. Separately, we can support manufacturers with their own strategy and business development activities, provided potential conflicts of interest are managed transparently.

Yes. We can act as a bridge between the product owner and manufacturing team during industrialisation. This can include translating product requirements, coordinating trials, addressing recipe and processing challenges, defining validation requirements and helping both parties manage the scale-up process efficiently.

Yes. Depending on your capabilities and target market, we can help identify attractive categories, potential customers, strategic partners and geographic opportunities. Our aim is to connect manufacturing strengths to markets where those capabilities create meaningful value.

AI can support technology scanning, application mapping, market research, customer segmentation and innovation ideation. Combined with industry expertise, this can help manufacturers discover opportunities that may not be obvious from existing customer requests or traditional market research.

The FoodFlow® Method is Cibus Nexum's structured approach for developing a contract manufacturing setup and bringing it through to commercial launch. It guides a project through four connected phases: Design, Find, Onboard and Launch.

The process starts by defining the product, packaging, supply-chain and manufacturing requirements, continues with identifying and validating suitable co-manufacturers, and then moves through technical and commercial onboarding toward an operational manufacturing setup and first production run. The method is structured, but it can be adapted to the specific needs of the project.

Because finding a manufacturer is only useful when there is clarity about what the manufacturer actually needs to deliver.

During the Design phase, Cibus Nexum works with the client to define the project setup, search strategy, supply-chain configuration and manufacturing requirements. Product, packaging, processing, shelf-life, storage and temperature requirements are captured in a Product & Packaging Brief. The phase also considers different contract-manufacturing scenarios and the balance between the client's IP and the capabilities and interests of potential producers.

This provides the foundation for a much more targeted Find phase.

During the Find phase, Cibus Nexum first establishes a longlist using its existing database, scouting expertise, vetted network and international platforms.

Potential partners are then filtered against the requirements defined during Design. We approach selected companies mostly incognito and they will receive a Request for Information. 

The RFI typically includes a summary of the Product & Packaging Brief and, where useful, a structured questionnaire. Responses are screened and followed by clarification discussions to assess factors including experience, capacity, market knowledge and willingness to take on the project.

The result is a validated shortlist of suitable manufacturing partners, together with a recommendation for the preferred candidates.

Yes, of course, that is one of our USP's !

FoodFlow® allows the search strategy to be adapted to the confidentiality requirements of the project, including the possibility of approaching potential manufacturing partners anonymously during the initial search.

The client's identity and more detailed project information can be disclosed later in the process, once appropriate parties have been shortlisted and Non-Disclosure Agreements are in place. This allows the market to be explored while controlling when commercially sensitive information is shared.

FoodFlow® uses predefined project requirements and, where appropriate, an evaluation matrix established during the Design phase.

Rather than selecting a manufacturer simply because it has the right equipment, the process considers a broader set of criteria, including technical capabilities, experience, capacity, market knowledge, interest in the project and compatibility with the defined supply-chain and production requirements.

Initial responses are compared, clarification discussions provide additional information, and the candidates are progressively filtered toward the most suitable shortlist.

That is where the Onboard phase begins.

After appropriate NDAs are in place, shortlisted manufacturers receive more detailed information about the client, its ambitions and the project. Clarification meetings are organised between the client, Cibus Nexum and the potential partners, followed by budget proposals and further evaluation.

The phase brings together three important workstreams: commercial, including proposals and negotiations; technical, including recipe preparation and industrial trials; and quality, including screening, assessment and where appropriate auditing.

The intended outcome is a preferred co-manufacturer, approved samples, an approved supplier and a commercial framework that can progress toward launch.

Yes. Trials form an important part of the Onboard phase.

Depending on the project, this can include preparing the recipe, assessing process parameters, pilot or industrial trials and evaluating the resulting samples. Quality screening and verification of relevant certifications can also form part of this stage, with an on-site audit available where appropriate.

This means the manufacturing decision is not based solely on what a potential partner says it can do: the process creates an opportunity to evaluate whether the product and process can actually be transferred successfully into the proposed manufacturing environment.

IP considerations begin during the Design phase, when Cibus Nexum assesses the relationship between the client's intellectual property and the capabilities and interests of potential producers.

Information can be disclosed progressively during the search, and the initial Find phase can be conducted anonymously if appropriate. Before shortlisted parties receive more detailed information during Onboard, NDAs are put in place.

This staged approach allows enough information to be exchanged to evaluate manufacturing feasibility while providing a framework for managing commercially sensitive product and process information.

No. Selecting a co-manufacturer is only part of the process.

The Launch phase focuses on preparing the manufacturing relationship and supply chain for the first commercial production run. Cibus Nexum works with the onboarded manufacturer to establish an action plan covering joint objectives, responsibilities, operations and communication.

Topics include cost management, the supply agreement, Service Level Agreements, sourcing of raw materials and packaging, production preparation, storage, transport, export, quality requirements, claims, declarations, nutritionals, legislation, final packaging and label approval, and specification management.

The objective is to move from an initial manufacturing need to a fully operational manufacturing setup ready for commercial production.

Across the four phases, FoodFlow® progressively develops the Product & Packaging Brief, creates and validates the manufacturer shortlist, establishes the preferred partner, supports technical and quality approval, and prepares the commercial and operational framework for launch.

At the end of the Launch phase, the intended deliverables include a production setup ready for the first commercial run, a negotiated and signed supply agreement, sourcing arrangements for ingredients and packaging, and the supporting supply-chain, quality and operational processes.